Float switch



Sept. 15, 1936. H, A, PALMER 2,054,205

FLOAT SWITCH Filed May l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l SWW/who@ Harry Palmer @Mo/'man Sept. 15, 1936. H. A. PALMER FLOAT SWITCH Filed May l2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED STATES FLOAT SWITCH Harry A. Palmer,

Malden, Mass., assigner to Palmer Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,801 IClaim. (01.200-84) This invention relates to a fioat switch designed primarily for use in connection with a liquid feed regulating apparatus of that type for providing a constant feed or a constant gravity feed from a source of liquid supply to a point of destination or consumption, but it is to be understood that the switch, in accordance with this invention may be employed in any connection for applicable, and the invention has -for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a iioat switch controlled by the liquid passing through the apparatus for controlling the power circuit of a liquid feed pump.

To the above ends and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts and such combination of parts which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a liquid feed regulating apparatus showing the adaptation therewith of a oat switch in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a like to Figure 1.

The apparatus, as shown, includes an annular housing I consisting of a body part 2 inturned at s top, as at 3 for reinforcing purposes. The bottom oi body part 3 has an internally arranged annular ange 4 of angle-shape cross section. A bottom 5 is arranged within body part 2 and is formed with a. depending ange 6 for seating in flange 4. The body part 2 between its transverse median and its upper end is inset circumferentially, as at 1 to provide a supporting ledge. Seated upon the latter, as well as being soldered to body part 2 is a partition 8 formed with an axial opening 9. A anged dome-shaped closure or top I0 is provided for the upper end of body part 2. Seated upon the partition 8 is a vertical structure I I formed from end to end with a guide passage I2 which registers with the bore 9. The upper portion of structure II is bifurcated diametrically thereof as at I3. Formed integral with opposite sides of the structure I I and seated upon the partition 8 is a pair of oppositely disposed lateral retainers I4 for the said structure II. The retainers are of inverted T-shape in cross section and upwardly iianged at their outer ends, as at I5 which abut the inner face of body part 2. The retainers are detachably secured to body part 2 by holdfast means I6.

'Ihe partition 8 in connection with a portion of the body part 2 and closure I0 provides a closed chamber I1 for a switching mechanism I8 which is pivotally mounted on a post I9 extended upview taken at right angles wardly from one of the retainers I4. anism I8 is formed with a lever arm 20 which extends through the furcation provided by the b1- furcated upper portion of structure II. The

I8 preferably will be of the mercold n type and which is interposed in a p'ower line ciremployed in connection with driving a pump or other mechanism for forcing the liquid through a liquid feed line or for opening and closing a liquid source arranged above the appa- 10 ratus. The circuit 2I is connected to the housing by a coupling 22 and extends therein to mechanism I8.

The partition 8 in connection with a portion of body part 2 and bottom 5 provides an upper 15 oat or liquid receiving chamber 23 into which the supply section 23' of the liquid feed line opens. The bottom 5 is formed with spaced openings 24, 25 and 26, the latter being disposed at the center of bottom 5. 20

Surrounding the lower portion of body part 2 is a depending annular member 21 having an inturned bottom 28. The upper portion of member 21 is outset, as at 29 to provide an internal shoulder 30 upon which is seated a collar 3 I. The latter is secured to member 21 by holdfast means 32 and is soldered to body part 2.

Arranged within member 21 is an open top receptacle 33 providing a lower iioat or liquid receiving chamber 34, which opens at its bottom into the delivery section 35 of the liquid feed line. The receptacle 33 has its top spaced from bottom 5 of chamber 23 and is spaced from member 21. Formed integral with the latter and the bottom 36 of receptacle 33 is a pair of intersecting oppositely disposed webs 31 for supporting receptacle 33 within member 21.

The feed line section 23' extends through member 21 adjacent receptacle 33, through opening 24 and upwardly into chamber 23 to a point in proximity to partition 8. The upper terminal of section 23 is horizontally disposed, curved as at 38 and discharges downwardly. The section 23 is soldered to bottom 5.

Arranged within chamber 23, extending down- 45 The mech- Awardly through opening 25, and opening into the upper portion of chamber 34 is an overflow pipe 39, for chamber 23. The pipe 39 is soldered to bottom 5.

Secured to bottom 5 and extending upwardly through opening 26 is a ported, chambered, iianged casting 40 formed in its upper portion with a bore 4I. The casting provides a valve housing. 'I'he ports and chamber in casting 40 are indicated et 42, 4s respectively. The bore 4| and 55 2 aoeaaos ports li'opening into chamber 63, and the lower part of the wall of the latter is beveled to provide a valve seat 44. The ports 42 and chamber 53 establish communication between chambers 23 and 3d. Communication is controlled between said chambers by a valve 45 coactlng with seat dd. Extending upwardly from valve 45 and through bore 4I is a valve stem d6. Depending from valve 45 is an inverted yoke lll.

The bottom 36 of receptacle 33 is provided with a pair of openings i8, 49 having secured therein depending nipples I), 5I respectively. Attached to nipple 38 is an overiiow pipe 48' for chamber 34 and a liquid carrying oi pipe 52. Attached to nipple 49 is the delivery section 35 of the feed line.

vertically movable in the chamber 23 by the liquid supplied to the latter is a iioat 53 for actuating the mechanism I8 to circuit opening and closing position. The float 53 is provided with a slotted stem 59 extending through the guide passage I2 of the said structure II. The lever 2B extends through the slot 55 in stem 54. The length of slot 55 is such that when the level of the liquid supplied to chamber 23 lowers to the line 56 the upper end wall 5l of slot 55 will engage and actuate lever 20 in a direction to provide for the operation of mechanism I8 in a manner to close the power circuit. When the level of the liquid supplied to chamber 23 raises to the line 58 the lower end wall 59 of slot 55 will engage and actuate lever 20 in a direction to provide for the operation of the mechanism I8 in a manner to open the power circuit. During the time that the power circuit is closed the chamber 23 will be supplied with liquid through feed line section 23'. During the time the power circuit is open the feed of liquid to chamber 23 will be discontinued.

Arranged within chamber 31S is a vertically movable oat 59 for controlling valve 45 to maintain the liquid supplied to chamber 35 at a constant level resulting in a constant gravity feed through feed line section 35 to the point of destination or consumption. The oat 59 is formed with a stem 60 which is arranged within and is pivotally connected, as at 6I to the yoke lll. The constant level of the liquid within chamber 3A is indicated by the line 62. This level drops to about .001" to provide for the liquid from chamber 23 which seeps past valve seat M maintaining a constant liquid level in chamber 3G. The latter is of materially less area than chamber 23.

What Iclaim is:-.

In a oat switch for the purpose set forth, a vertically disposed stationary structure provided from end to end thereof with a guide passage, the upper portion of said structure being bi-furca-ted lengthwise thereof from its top edge and at diametrically opposed points thereof to form a pair of spaced paralleled furcations opening into said guide passage, a pair of oppositely extending horizontally disposed stationary inverted T-shaped post retainers merging at their inner ends into said structure in proximity to the lower end of the latter, one of said retainers adapted to have one side of its base support adjacent to said structurela rockable power circuit controlling switch of that type having a laterally disposed lever arm for extension through said furcations, a vertically movable float operated means traveling in the guide passage in and permanently depending from the said structur said means being formed lengthwise of its upper portion with an elongated rectangular slot through which is adapted to permanently extend said lever arm, the lower end of the wall of said slot adapted to engage the bottom edge of said lever arm on the upward movement of said means to elevate said lever arm for rocking said switch in a direction to open a power circuit, the upper end wall of said slot adapted to engage the top edge of said'lever arm on the downward movement of said means to lower said lever for rocking said switch in a direction to close the power circuit, and the base walls of said furcations providing stops adapted to arrest the lowering movement of said lever arm.

HARRY A. PALMER. 

